Suspension implant

Abstract

In an embodiment, a surgical implant includes a body extending from a distal end to a proximal end, the body having a first section proximal to the distal end and a second section between the first section and the proximal end, a needle attachment member located at the distal end of the body, the needle attachment member configured to attach to a needle for insertion of the surgical implant into a patient's tissue, a plurality of first barbs located on the first section of the body, the first barbs pointed towards the proximal end of the body, and a plurality of second barbs located on the second section of the body, the second barbs pointed towards the distal end of the body, wherein the second barbs are configured to be folded inwardly for insertion of the surgical implant into the patient's tissue by the needle.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
       1. A surgical implant comprising:
 a body extending from a distal end to a proximal end, the body having a first section proximal to the distal end and a second section between the first section and the proximal end; 
 a needle attachment member located at the distal end of the body, the needle attachment member including a distal loop, the needle attachment member configured to attach to a needle for insertion of the surgical implant into a patient's tissue; 
 a plurality of first barbs located on the first section of the body, the first barbs pointed towards the proximal end of the body; and 
 a plurality of second barbs located on the second section of the body, the second barbs pointed towards the distal end of the body, wherein the second barbs are configured to be folded inwardly for insertion of the surgical implant into the patient's tissue by the needle. 
 
     
     
       2. The surgical implant of  claim 1 , which is configured to lift and stiffen the patient's tissue when inserted into the patient's tissue. 
     
     
       3. The surgical implant of  claim 1 , wherein the second section of the body is recessed in comparison to the first section to permit the plurality of second barbs to be folded inwardly. 
     
     
       4. The surgical implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes at least a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the plurality of second barbs protruding from both the first and second sides and configured to fold inwardly towards each other to permit insertion into the patient's tissue. 
     
     
       5. The surgical implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes at least a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the plurality of second barbs protruding from both the first and second sides and configured to fold inwardly so that the second barbs on opposing sides are touching. 
     
     
       6. A system for lifting and stiffening a patient's tissue, the system comprising:
 a surgical implant further comprising
 an implant body extending from a distal end to a proximal end, the implant body having a first section proximal to the distal end and a second section between the first section and the proximal end, 
 a distal loop located at the distal end of the implant body, 
 a plurality of first barbs located on the first section of the implant body, the first barbs pointed towards the proximal end of the implant body, and 
 a plurality of second barbs located on the second section of the implant body, the second barbs pointed towards the distal end of the implant body; and 
 
 an insertion device configured to insert the surgical implant into the patient's tissue, the insertion device further comprising
 a needle extending to a tip, 
 a receiving member located proximal to the tip and configured to receive the distal loop of the surgical implant during insertion of the surgical implant into the patient's tissue, and 
 an indentation extending along at least a portion of the needle, the indentation configured to align with the plurality of second barbs when the distal loop is received by the receiving member during insertion of the surgical implant into the patient's tissue. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the receiving member further comprises an aperture configured to receive the distal loop. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of second barbs are configured to be folded inwardly when aligned with the indentation. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the implant body further comprises at least a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the plurality of second barbs protruding from both the first and second sides and configured to fold inwardly towards each other for insertion into the patient's tissue. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the implant body further comprises at least a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and wherein the second section further comprises the second barbs protruding from the first side of the body and is barbless on the second side of the body. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the needle includes a curved portion, and wherein the indentation is located on the curved portion. 
     
     
       12. A method of lifting and stiffening a patient's tissue with a surgical implant, the surgical implant including an implant body extending from a distal end to a proximal end, the implant body having a first section proximal to the distal end and a second section between the first section and the proximal end, a distal loop located at the distal end of the implant body, a plurality of first barbs located on the first section of the implant body, the first barbs pointed towards the proximal end of the implant body, and a plurality of second barbs located on the second section of the implant body, the second barbs pointed towards the distal end of the implant body, the method comprising:
 attaching the distal loop proximal to a tip of a needle; 
 aligning the second section of the implant body with an indentation in the needle so that the second barbs are pointed inwardly toward the needle; 
 inserting at least the tip of the needle into the patient's tissue in a first direction while the patient's tissue is in an initial position; 
 removing the needle from the patient's tissue; 
 pulling the surgical implant in a second direction so that the plurality of first barbs of the surgical implant pull the patient's tissue in the second direction; and 
 releasing the surgical implant so that the plurality of second barbs of the surgical implant prevent the patient's tissue from returning to the initial position. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein aligning the second section includes folding the plurality of second barbs towards each other so that the second barbs are pointed inwardly toward the needle. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein aligning the second section includes twisting the implant body so that the second barbs are pointed inwardly toward the needle. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein aligning the second section includes pulling the proximal end of the implant body away from the distal end. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , which includes securing a thread to a proximal loop located at the proximal end of the implant body when aligning the second section of the implant body with the indentation in the needle. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein releasing the surgical implant includes releasing the thread from the proximal loop of the implant body. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the thread includes a barbless suture. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the needle extends from a suture insertion device. 
     
     
       20. A surgical implant comprising:
 a body extending from a distal end to a proximal end, the body having a first section proximal to the distal end and a second section between the first section and the proximal end; 
 a needle attachment member located at the distal end of the body, the needle attachment member configured to attach to a needle for insertion of the surgical implant into a patient's tissue; 
 a plurality of first barbs located on the first section of the body, the first barbs pointed towards the proximal end of the body; and 
 a plurality of second barbs located on the second section of the body, the second barbs pointed towards the distal end of the body, wherein the second barbs are configured to be folded inwardly for insertion of the surgical implant into the patient's tissue by the needle, wherein the second section of the body is recessed in comparison to the first section to permit the plurality of second barbs to be folded inwardly.